Storage battery.



E. J. KNAPM E. D. MQLAUGHLIN.

STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLIOATION FILED mn. as, 1,910.

Patented Apr.25,1911.

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l D MLghlln Edgar LKna .A FnEHE E. J. KNAPP & E. D. MGLAUGHLIN.

STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB.. 2a, 1910.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

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@MM W UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR JONAS KNAPP AND EDWARD DANIEL MULAUGHLIN, OF MlIiWAUKEE,

WISCONSIN.

STORAGE EATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application led March 28, 1910. Serial No. 552,106.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDGAR JONAS KNAPP and EDWARD DANIEL MCLAUGHLIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stora e Batteries, of which the following is a fu, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to ,elect'rical batteries, particularly secondary'or storage batteries, and resides in improved features of construction and arrangement for the purpose of increasing the accumulative eiiiciency, and to provide a structure which will admit of building such batteries of different capacities along the same general lines and without proportionately increasing all the dimensions of the device. To the ends above pointed out, we provide an electrode in the form of a unit, any number of which may be provided in association with a corresponding and opposite blanket electrode to secure any desired capacity. It is, of course, well known that, outside of the character of the electrodes, the porosity thereof, the density of the electrolyte, and the temperature, the capacity of a. secondaryV or storage battery depends on and varies directly with the area of the electrodes exposed to the action of the electrolyte. Relying upon this fact, we provide, as one of the electrodes, an arrangement comprising one or more structural units, all preferably ofthe same size and construction, `and associate with this arrangement an opposite electrode sufficient in size to give a corresponding exposure to the electrolyte. In this way we provide a definite lplan of construction which may be followed out to secure any desired capacity without changin more than one dimension of the containing vessel. This dimension varies with the number of units employed, and, consequently, with the size of the associated blanket electrode. The arrangement is a simple one, and such that an accumulator of high efficiency is obtained.

Our invention' is embodied in the structures shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line i 2 2 of Fi l, one of the units being removed to s ow more of the opposite electrode; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1,.

showin however, two blanket electrodes instead o one; Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a modified form of unit; Fig. 5 is a view showing still another modified form of unit; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the units employed; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional vielw taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6 and on a larger scale; Figs, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are views similar to Fig. 7, showing modified forms of the unit electrode, and Fig. 14 shows a modified form of core used in the unit -electrode.

Referring first to Figs. 1,2, c and 7, the' -a paste by the use of some suitable liquid and filled in the grid, as indicated at 18. This member then becomes the negativeelectrode.

The positive electrode comprises one or more of the units indicated at 19, 19. Each of these units is preferably of substantially some such way that the electrolyte, which may be any proper'substance, although preferably dilute sulfuric acid, may have proper and complete accessv thereto. To this lend out interfering with the passage of the elec-` trolyte. In the form shown in Figs. 6 vand -7, the positive electrode unit comprises a reticulated cylindrical shell of rubber, celluloid, cellulose, or any other non-corrosive substance having the proper inherent mechanical resistance. This reticulated shell is indicated at 20, and is preferably closed at the bottom by means of a plug 21 `held rigidly in place in any suitable manner. The member which prevents the comminuted lead or lead peroxid from passing through the apertures in the shell 20 but which permits of the passage of the electrolyte is indicated at 22, and may be of canvas, paper, wood, asbestos, or any other non-corrosive material which .is suiiiciently porous for the purpose' set forth. The containing member 22 may or may not, as desired, extend over the bottom 21. The comminuted lead or lead peroxid is indicated at 23, andthe core 24, which may be of any suitable form, extends into this material, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. This core may be of ure lead, or may be chemically formed 1f preferred, and, at its upper end, terminates in a rod 25, which extends upwardly and to which a connecting ribbon or other member 26 may be attached, as indicated in Figs. -1, 2 and 3. A wood strip 27 may be set in the containing vessel through which the studs or rods 25, 25 may pass, so that the units may be properly spaced apart.

Al the units are connected together, .as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the positive terminal of the battery thus results. The grid provided in association with these units is, preferably, of sutcient size to be at least co-extensive with the units, and we contemplate the preparation of a number of sizes of such grids, each size being adapted for association with a certain number of units and being quite indicative of the capacity of .the battery which will result. When, as shown in Fig. 3, two grids are employed instead of one they are connected together by extensions 28', or in some other suitable manner to form a commonterminal, which 4is the opposite or negative terminal of the battery. In Fig. 8 we have shown a modified form of unit which provides for the expansion and contraction of the containing members due to temperature and other causes. In this modification the supporting container is luted,'while the porous container overlaps, as indicated at 29, and it is clear that these members may contract and expand within considerable limits without breakage. In

The structure of Figi 9 is similar to that of Fig. 8, exceptfthat the/porous containerl is also fluted to follow the contour of the supporting container, and it is apparent that the same result is secured.

In Fig. 10 we have shown a ine mesh metal screen which serves both .purposesthat is, properly supporting the active' ma' terial, and also preventing loss thereof while ,still admitting the electrolyte. In this case it would be necessary to use an alkaline 4electrolyte instead of an acid bath, for obvious reasons.

In Fig. 11 we provide one member which serves both purposes, in this case being of earlthenware or other similar porous mater1a l In Fig. 12 we have shown both the supporting shell andthe porous member overlapped t/o provide for expansion and contraction, as describedl relative to Figs. 8 and 9.

The structure of Fig. 13 is similar to that of Fig. 12, except that one edge of the supporting shell is slit to receive the other edge thereof, as indicated, to provide a more substantial connection.

In Figs. 9 to 13 the cores are similar to the core described and shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 14 we have shown a modified form of core, the member 25 extending from a coiled rod, indicated at 31.

We claim as new and desire Letters Patent:

1. In a storage battery, an electrode comprising a supporting member in the form of an over-lapping shell, an over-lappin poto secure by rous container disposed inside said shel ,and

active material contained by, said container.

2. In a storage battery, an electrodecom-l prising a supporting member in the form of a substantially cylindrical shell, one ed e of saidshell being slit for the reception o the other edge, a porous containing member inside said shell, and active material contained by said porous member.

3. In a storage battery, an electrode comprising a container in the' form of a sub-.. l

stantially cylindrical shell,j one edge of which is slitted for the reception of the other edge, and active material containedby l said container.

4. In a storage battery, an electrode comprising a supportin member in the form of an'expansible shel, an \expansible orous container disposed inside said shel, and

active material contained by said container.

5. In a storagebattery, an electrode comprising a supporting member in the form of an over-lappingshell, an expansible porous container dis osed inside said shell, and our names, this 21st day of March, A. D. active materia contained by said container. 1910. Y

6. In a storage battery, an 'electrode com- EDGAB JONAS KNAPP. prising a supporting inember in the form EDWARD DANIEL MOLAUGHLIN. 5 of an expansible shell, an overlapping porous container disposed in said shell, and Witnesses for both: active material contained by said container. J OsnPH A. ROBINSON. yIn witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe FRANK E. SCUDOER. 

